1991.1016.211.6

Letter from Thomas Matthew Rooke to Dorothy Walker, dated 28 Feb 1935. Found inserted in the book, Philip Webb and his Work by Lethaby, W.R., when acquired by the museum, shelf N58 . Part of the Emery Walker Library.

London

1935-06-16 - 1935-06-16

Arts & Crafts

Letter from Thomas Matthews Rooke (index card incorrectly says ‘Noel Rosko’) to ‘Dorothy’ (index card says ‘Dorothy Webb’ but it is more likely to be Dorothy Walker) dated 28th February 1935. Found in ‘Philip Webb and His Work’ by W R Lethaby. 7 Queen Ann’s Gdns W.4 28th Feb. 35 My dear Dorothy So indescribably kind of you to have sent me this invaluable present, with such highly appreciated friendship All the slowly diminishing circle [inserted of us] remaining from the days of great things, is to draw together & keep our mutual memories warm. I am as sorry for the one who may remain solely [inserted as] the last of all, [inserted &] as I am content to feel that it won’t be myself, as things go If otherwise that would indeed be a miserable conclusion on my part. And your [inserted own] heart’s content may be reassured that as the first intended news of this [inserted most] precious of books came from you, so also have you given me the first sight of it, with a new assurance of the pleasure of your continued friendship. Another friend did tell me of its having been announced as out. And this brings me to my second heading of this text, the gratitude evoked by the beautiful way in which friends have combined to make my later days not the least cheery ones. A realising of what that greatest of all the Prophets; that Eternal “Punch”! announced to me in youthful days It was a depicting of himself being kissed under the mistletoe by all the girls of a Christmas Party. Life is as full of interest as ever. [Transcriber’s comment: The last sentence appears to have been added as an afterthought, the underlining of the last 5 words showing that they do not belong to the next paragraph] What a Cockerell[i], to have kept all this up his sleeve for so long. Another proof of his being the greatest of men, since the departure of the [Demi] God. It was he who put it to me when Philip Webb[ii] was the one [inserted of them] remaining, that all we had to do was to concentrate our regards upon him. And he too [inserted it was] who has obtained this memorial from an equally selfless [inserted [hard by willing] authorship With you, I hope, he will soon be well again from the [final End’s power] I have ever known him to [illegible] Very happy to hear of the happy household you had the happiness to witness. A reminder that there is still the next generation to carry things on, if only as the shadow of a shadow. The portrait is another surprise not as recalling (as one Murray[ii] did of E.B.J[iii] which is very self.) I only had one glimpse of P.W[iv] of the early time. If only that pathos of grim humour that we knew so well had been preserved. No one dared! C.F.M.[ii] would dare anything Have you seen that account in Tuesdays Times of what is doing in Bristol Cathedral by Lethaby’s Pre-Eminent pupil Bertram, most illuminating like all he does. Your always infinitely grateful T M Rooke[v] with love from us all [Footnote: [i] Sir Sydney Cockerell (1867 – 1962), collector and curator of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge from 1908 to 1937. [ii]Charles Fairfax Murray/CFM (1849 – 1915), artist and associate of Edward Burne-Jones [iii]E. B. J. is Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), artist. [iv] Philip Webb (1831 – 1915), architect and friend of, inter alia, William Morris. He is referred to again in the letter as P. W. [v] Thomas Matthews Rooke (1842 – 1942), artist and associate of Edward Burne-Jones. See also 1991. 1016. 644. CAW